Belt with garment holding clamps



y 6, 1952 c. K. SEID 2,595,893

BELT WITH GARMENT HOLDING CLAMPS Filed Dec. 1, 1948 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BELT WITH GARMENT HOLDING CLAMPS Charles K. Seid, Woodmere, N. Y.

Application December 1, 1948, Serial No. 62,856

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to clasps, and particularly to a multiple use clasp "adapted for holding folded or unfolded fabrics or other articles in relation to the object to which the clasp may be secured.

"The object of the invention i to provide an improved clasp including a base and a spring actuated clasping tongue which, may be positioned at any effective angle to the base, or parallel thereto, and at any distance from the base within the capacity of the device.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a clasp as mentioned which may be manufactured in various sizes and proportions to adapt the device to divers uses.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists generally in a clasp comprising a base or body portion, a spring actuated presser or clasping tongue, and a spring actuated intervening link pivotally connected to both the body portion and the tongue, whereby the tongue may be positioned at any distance fromthe body portion within the limits of the device and at any angle to the body in order that the invention, illustrating the same as applied to a belt,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section thereof on substantially the line 2-2 of Figure 1, the tongue and connecting link being shown in elevation,

Figure 3 is a view illustrating a use of the in vention when applied to a belt,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a clasp embodying the invention as applied to a table top or the like,

Figure 5 is a detail longitudinal section upon an enlarged scale, and taken on the line 5-5 of Fig ure 6, and

Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line 5--6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, I0 indicates the base of the clasp which is preferably an elongated member provided in its outer face with a shallow recess I I extending the greater portion of the length of the base to accommodate a clasplng tongue I2 when the same is in retracted or inoperative position. The recess II is substantially the depthof the thickness of the tongue I2 and extends throughout the major portion of the length of the device. At one end of the said recess is an aperture I3 preferably the width of said recess II and extending through said body.

Within said aperture I3 is hingedly mounted a link I5 on a transverse pin I6 fixed in the base member Ii} below the plane of theouter face thereof and spanning the aperture I3. The link i5 corresponds in width to that of the aperture l 3, and at the free end thereof is provided with cars It in which is mounted a pin it the ends of which extend beyond the ears I! into lugs III depending from the tongue I2. The lugs I9 are spaced from the adjacent end of the tongue providing a rearwardly extending portion I2 the purpose of which will appear hereinafter. 'When the tongue i2 is retracted within the recess II, the link I5 will lie beneath the tongue and entirely within the aperture I3, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the side walls of the recess being notched to receive the lugs I9.

Coiled about the pin I 8 between the ears I! is a spring 2i the extended ends 22 and 23 of which are seated in longitudinal grooves 24 and 25 formed in the tongue extension I2 and the link i5 respectively. A flat spring 21 having one end 21" thereof fixed in the base Iii, is formed with a concavely curved portion 27" at its free end which engages beneath the preferably squared lower end I5of the link I5. The curved portion 2? is substantially concentric with the pin I6 for the major portion of its extent so that said spring will hold the link firmly in both the fully elevated position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, and in fully folded position as indicated at I5 in the same figure, and in full lines in Fig. 4. When in an intermediate position, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the spring 21 exerts a turning moment upon the link which adds to the pressure of the tongue I2 upon the material or object between the tongue and the base, particularly adjacent the hinge.

When the device is fully folded or collapsed, the tongue !2 lies within the recess II and preferably with the outer face thereof flush with the adjacent outer face of the body. Preferably, the tongue I2 terminates a short distance from the end of the recess, as indicated at II in Fig. 1, to

facilitate raising the tongue when desired.

It should be noted that the extended portion l2 of the tongue rests against the upper face of the link l when in folded position. By this construction, when the tongue I2 is raised, as indicated by the dotted lines I2 in Fig. 5 the link IE will also be raised. After the link l5 has been raised sufficiently, and the material to be clasped has been placed in position, the tongue is released and the spring 2| will swing the tongue into position to hold the material.

The clasp above described is adapted for manifold uses, by varying the size of the device to suit the particular purpose to be attained and by varying the relative proportions of the tongue and link; all of which are contemplated and are within the scope of the invention.

In Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings the device has been illustrated as applied to a belt 30, and as such is adapted to holdback the front edges of a coat as shown in Figure 3, which is of great convenience to protect the garment when the wearer is seated at a lunch counter, at a work table, or under various conditions. When the device is applied to a belt the base is preferably embedded therein with its outer face substantially flush with the outer surface of the belt and remote from the belt buckle, as illustrated in Figure 2; l

The device may also be applied to a sewing machine or other work table top 3| to hold the work While stitching or cutting; and when so used the ability to angularly adjust the link and tongue is of particular advantage, as when the material being worked upon is folded, the tongue may be adjusted to engage the material remote from the fold and hold the same firmly without creasing at the fold.

It is obvious that the device may be designed for use with either mens or womens wearing apparel either to support or to hold a garment in place; also to attach collars, culls or other trimmings to a garment or to hold neckties or the the tongue I2 upon lifting the work against the tension of the spring 2|, the tension of which may be designed for the particular purpose for which the device is to be used. By varying the lengths of the link I5 and tongue 12, and the tension of the springs 2! and 21, the device may be designed for many uses either as a portable or fixed clasp.

Among further uses the device may be used to hold sheets of paper or other materials where quick release of one or more sheets may be desirable, such as in writing pads, notebooks, wallets et cetera; or as a pocket clasp for fountain pens or for pencils.

' be put, the device may be designed either to crease or not to crease the work, as desired.

I claim:

1. A belt having the usual buckle and free ends, in combination with a pair of clasps fixed thereto in spaced relation from said ends respectively, each of said clasps comprising an elongated base, a link hinged at its inner end to the base adjacent the forward end thereof, a clasping tongue hinged to the outer end of said link and extending rearwardly therefrom to clasp the forward edges of a coat, a spring interposed between said link and said tongue and coiled around the hinged connection of the link and tongue, and a flat spring attached at one end to said base and its other end engaging under the inner end of said link.

2. A belt, in combination with a pair of clasps as set forth in claim 1 in which the base of each clasp is embedded in the belt with the outer tongue extending toward the end of said base remote from the first said hinged connection, a spring interposed between said link and said tongue and coiled around the hinged connection between said link and said tongue, said spring constantly tending to force the outer end of said tongue toward said base, a flat spring attached at one end to saidbase and the other end thereof engaging under the inner end of said link to yieldingly hold said link in an optional angular position, and an extension on said tongue projecting beyond the last said hinged connection in the opposite direction from said tongue and adapted to engage the adjacent face of said link when said tongue is in substantial alignment with said link, whereby said link may be raised thereby simultaneously with said tongue.

' CHARLES K. SEID.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 78,505 Wright June 2, 1868 341,976 Wheeler May 18, 1386 350,743 Higbee Oct. 12, 1886 434,343 Katherman Aug. 12, 1890 534,679 Atwood Feb. 26, 1895 687,133 Denning Nov. 19, 1901 836,213 Rayman Nov. 20, 1906 1,229,200 Mehlhope et al. June 5, 1917 1,859,365 Johnson May 24, 1932 

